ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
Postsecondary Accountability--Diploma Mills


Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 810 • Denver, CO 80203-3442 • 303.299.3600 • fax 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format.

Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date].

State Status/Date Level Summary
LASigned into law 06/2010Postsec.
Community College
Fraudulent Postsecondary Degrees
S.B. 94
Relates to a fraudulent postsecondary education degree; to create the crime of the unlawful production, manufacture, distribution, or posses...

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WISigned into law 05/2010Postsec.
Community College

S.B. 431
Prohibits a person that holds itself out to the public in any way as a legitimate institution of higher education from using the term "colle...

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ALAdopted 03/2010Postsec.Postsecondary Course Offerings by Non-Accredited Institutions
300-2-1-.02
Defines "non-accredited institution" as an institution not accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or Council...

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MISigned into law 01/2010Postsec.Proprietary Schools
S.B. 786
Provides for the accreditation, regulation and licensing of proprietary schools; authorizes a proprietary school to sell goods or services p...

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TXAdopted 11/2009Postsec.Degree-Granting Colleges and Universities
19 TAC 1.7.7.1 -.13
Establishes new rules concerning degree-granting colleges and universities other than Texas public institutions. As stated in the August 7, ...

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IDAdopted 06/2009Postsec.Registration of Postsecondary Institutions
IDAPA 08.01.11
Clarifies that postsecondary institutions need to register to ensure they are legitimate degree granting institutions and that proprietary s...

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ORSigned into law 05/2009Postsec.Diploma Mills
S.B. 113
Limits the exemption of certain post-secondary schools and separately accredited campuses from degree requirements of Office of Degree Autho...

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ORSigned into law 05/2009Postsec.Diploma Mills
S.B. 114
Prohibits person who receives degree from diploma mill from using disclaimer to claim or represent that person possesses academic degree; de...

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ORSigned into law 05/2009Postsec.
Community College
Career/Technical
H.B. 2108
Requires school that confers or offers to confer academic degree to be licensed as career school for course or program that does not lead to...

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COSigned into law 05/2008Postsec.
Community College
Diplomas from Private Colleges and Universities
S.B. 167
Clarifies the authority related to the authorization to do business for private colleges or universities, bible colleges, and seminaries; pe...

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VASigned into law 03/2008Postsec.Fraudulent Academic Credentials
H.B. 766
Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor (a fine up to $2,500 and/or up to 12 months in jail) to issue or manufacture a fraudulent academic credential...

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MDAdopted 08/2007Postsec.
Community College
Postsecondary Institution Diploma and Degree Requirements
COMAR 13B.02.02.02-.08, .10-.19, .21, .22
Requires the Maryland Higher Education Commission to establish minimum requirements for issuing certificates, diplomas, and degrees by publi...

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RISigned into law 07/2007Postsec.Purchase and Sale of Academic Degrees
S.B. 392
Prohibits the purchase and sale of academic degrees wherein the degree is obtained on the basis of a combination of a payment of a fee and t...

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CTSigned into law 06/2007Postsec.
Community College
Accreditation and Diploma Mill Oversight
S.B. 1139
Concerns enhanced enforcement authority by the Department of Higher Education; provides the Board of Governors of Higher Education and the C...

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ORSigned into law 06/2007Postsec.
Community College
Diploma Mills
S.B. 198
Allows the Student Assistance Commission to terminate activities of diploma mills and operation of post-secondary accrediting bodies not rec...

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IDTemporary Rule Adoption - Concurrently Proposed 08/2006Postsec.Registration of Postsecondary Institutions and Proprietary Schools
IDAPA 08.01.11
Repeals existing section 08.01.11 in its entirety. Sets forth the registration requirements for postsecondary educational institutions that ...

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WASigned into law 03/2006Postsec.
Community College
False Academic Credentials
H.B. 2507
Declares that a person is guilty of issuing a false academic credential if the person knowingly: (1) Grants or awards a false academic crede...

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TXAdopted 02/2006Postsec.Fictitious, Fraudulent or Substandard Degrees
19 TAC 1.7.A.7.3
Adds new definitions pertaining to "fictitious degree," "fraudulent or substandard degree," "protected term." TEXAS 98741...

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MISigned into law 07/2005Postsec.Authentic credentials in education
S.B. 136
Prohibits the issuance or manufacture of false academic credentials.

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2005-2006/publicact/pdf/2005-P...

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ORSigned into law 07/2005Postsec.Disclaimers for Degrees from Non-Approved Institutions
S.B. 1039
Allows a person who holds a degree from a post-secondary institution that is not accredited or approved by the Office of Degree Authorizatio...

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TXSigned into law 06/2005Postsec.
Community College
Fraudulent or Substandard Degrees
H.B. 1173
Adds Sec. 61.3021. Requires Texas Higher education Coordinating Board (board) by rule to establish a process for reviewing and approving a d...

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NDSigned into law 04/2005Postsec.
Community College
Private Postsecondary Institution Operations
S.B. 2120
Relates to fees provided to the state board for career and technical education for authorizations to operate private postsecondary instituti...

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CAVetoed 09/2004Postsec.Private Postsecondary Education Reform
A.B. 711
Relates to the Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education Reform Act of 1989. Defines nationally accredited institution to mean an insti...

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TNSigned into law 06/2004Postsec.
Community College
Higher Education False Credentials
H.B. 433
Prohibits the use of false credentials in higher education. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Chapter/PC0825.pdf...

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TNSigned into law 05/2004Postsec.False Academic Degrees
S.B. 2305
Concerns criminal offenses; creates Class A misdemeanor for person who knowingly issues, sells or manufactures false academic degree; create...

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WASigned into law 03/2004Postsec.Degree Granting Institutions
H.B. 2381
Ensures the quality of degree-granting institutions of higher education; relates to the accreditation of and site inspections of such instit...

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ORRule Adoption 10/2003Postsec.Definitions of School Types
OAR 583-050-0006, -0011, -0016, -0031, -0040, -0021
Revises definitions of school types to classify degree-issuing entities as standard, substandard, or diploma mill. Establishes fee schedule ...

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ILSigned into law 07/2003Postsec.False Academic Degrees
H.B. 1448
Provides it is unlawful for a person to knowingly manufacture or produce a false academic degree or for a person to knowingly use a false ac...

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NDSigned into law 04/2003Postsec.False Academic Credentials
H.B. 1068
Relates to the issuance, manufacture, and use of false academic degrees or certifications; provides a penalty....

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